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HALF HO0R LESSONS 



fTMERICAN HUTHORS. 



PREPAKKD BY 

A. K. LEAVIS (MRS. J. HJ 

DECATUR ILLINOIS. 



JOUn^AL PRINT, LINCOLN, NEB 



HALF HOUR LESSONS 



AMERICAN AUTHORS, 



"S0CL4L LITEKARY CIRCLE." 
I 



J' , PREPARED BY 



A. K. LEWIS (MRS. J. H.) 

DECATUR, ILLINOIS. 



JAN 191888 y 



LINCOLN, NEB.: 

STATE JOURNAL COMPANY, PRINTERS. 
1888. 



Copyright by Mrs. J. H. Lewis, 1885. 
Copyright by A. K. Lewis (Mrs. J. H.), 1888. 






PREFACE. 

The " Social Literary Circle" was established in 1885. Its object 
is for the study, of polite literature, in a social way, and has met with 
much favor, wherever introduced. Its plan of study is simply ar- 
ranged, not making any pretensions to being an elaborate, or deep 
course, and yet the depths are there, and may be searched for the 
jewels, there concealed. As will be seen, the lessons are arranged 
topically, and the plan pursued is, that each student shall only be re- 
sponsible for the giving of ofie topic, though it is expected that each 
will endeavor to spend some time in extra readings. The meetings 
are held semi-monthly, which give plenty of time for the preparation 
of the work. The course covers a period of ico years, and requires 
3 years to complete it as now outlined, allowing July, August, and 
Christmas vacations. We say " Half Hour Lessons," for they may be 
prepared in the " half hours " of busy lives. 



CONSTITUTION 

OF THE 

SOCIAL LITERARY CIRCLE. 



ARTICLE I. 

This society shall be called the . , . . . Social Literary Circle 
of 

ARTICLE II. 

Its object is for the study of polite literature — in a social manner. 

ARTICLE III. 

Its officers shall be President, Vice President, and Secretary and 
Treasurer (in one), to be elected semi-annually by ballot. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Each member pledges faithfulness, in performing every duty assigned 
in the circle, and prompt attendance at the hour of meeting. 

ARTICLE V. 

Honorary membership may be granted to those unable to attend 
all the regular meetings of the Circle. 

BY-LAW. 

An assessuient of 5 cents upon each member, for purchase of Sec- 
retary's book and postal cards — at such times as is necessary. 
Other by-laws, may be added by each Circle at pleasure. 



DasfiiHgtoB frumg. 



In commencing this series 'of lessons upon American Authors, it 
seems necessary to explain why we say that true American litera- 
ture is confined to the past one hundred years. 

The " colonial period" in our nation's history gave us such minds 
as Roger William, Cotton Mather, Jonathan Edwards, and Benjamin 
Franklin ; but their pens and voices were used in trying to settle the 
many questions of church heresies and dogmas, witchcraft, and phil- 
osophy. Then as we shade our eyes from the full and dazzling glare 
of the "literary lights" which illumine this last quarter of the nine- 
teenth century, and go back on time's dial loo years, we are carried 
into the dark hours of the revolutionary period, where we find a 
Patrick Henry, a George Washington, an Alexander Hamilton, and a 
Thomas Jefferson— all men of deep thought ; but statesmanship and 
patriotism were the lofty themes upon which their great minds dwelt. 

In those dark hours what do we see? Not peace, harmony, and 
love expressed by the press, books, and magazines ; instead we seethe 
glittering sword, spear, and rifle in the hand of every man. Not only 
was this true of America, but also France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, 
and Prussia were in a boiling cauldron of political and national com- 
motion. The little handful of brave, tried souls, who were stranded 
on Plymouth Rock, had grown into a great army of rebellious chil- 
dren, and unwilling longer to remain tied to a grasping, unyielding 
mother's apron strings, were striving to cast off the hated yoke. Dur- 
ing these years of toil and unrest, not one of America's brave sons or 
daughters had found a peaceful spot in which to sit down and quietly 
muse upon any theme. Nature was clad in as beautiful robes then as 
no'iv: Niagara poured her majestic torrents into her mystic caverns 
all unnoticed, or at least unsung ; the cloud-piercing peaks of Sugar 
Loaf, Break Neck, and Old Cro' Nest pointed skyward then as now ; 
but mankind could not pause then to tell of their beauty or grand- 
eur. Men were too busy turning their pruning hooks t.) swords, and 
women had only time to care for their husbands, brothers, and sons 
in their hours of deadly peril. The peaceful waters of the noble old 
Hudson sparkled in the sunbeams and glistened when the silver 
moonlight danced on the Tappan Zee ; but the dwellers upon its 
shores were busy peering into the darkness, listening for the stealthy 
footsteps of the invisible foe, or the "rat-tat-tat" of the signal drum 
as they marched, oft barefoot, over icy wastes, or scorched beneath 
the August sun. Those were, indeed, dark hours, not only in the 
literary world, but in every home and hovel in the land. But the 
spirit of '76 must triumph, and light began to dawn when Lafayette, 
with his kindly heart and kindlier hand, which, alas ! is oft forgotten 



in times of trouble, had come across the sighing, foamy sea, to aid 
the young country to a free and independent Hfe. Soon Spain and 
Portugal clasped hands over their bloody chasm, Poland and Prussia 
had to follow the example of their sister countries ; the treaty of 
peace at Versailles settled the troubles between Great Britian, Spain, 
and France. 

Louis XVI., the best but weakest of monarchs, laid his head upon 
the guillotine, and Lord Cornwallis handed his sword to our own 
noble Washington ; and it had hung but two year in its scabbard 
when an infant's wail was heard near the sea, and one said to his 
neighbor, the Irvings have another son, and they call him Washing- 
ton . And another from across the blue haze of the mountains of 
the Carolinas sends word to the sister land of the cold North, " We in 
the noble old home of the Allstons have a sweet-faced, gentle boy 
whom we call by the name which always stirs the pulse of every 
American heart — Washington." 

After a brief interval of peace, the mother country, still smarting 
under her disappointment, must needs try once more — 

" To come across the briny water 

To whip her naughty, willful daughter." 

But being again defeated, she returns to her island home, determined 
forever (as she could not help herself) just to let the child have her 
own way. 

In the years that saw and followed this strife, the little Washingtons 
passed from the happy days in baby land to the full vigor of man- 
hood, and Washington Irving, America's first " man of letters," found 
time to climb the mountain with " Rip Van Winkle," to perch in 
" Wolfert's Roost," and to rest and dream in "Sleepy Hollow." 
Washington Allston found a peaceful haven in which to sing his 
"Sylphs of the Seasons" and to touch with his Titian-like brush the 
pictures which have helped to make him famous. 



WASHINGTON IRVING. 

Born 17S3, N. V. Died 1S59. 



FIRST LESSON. 

1st Topic: Ten minutes sketch of colonial historv. 

2d " " " revolutionary period. 

3d " " " colonial writers. 

4th " " " revolutionary literature. 

5th " Ancestry and child life of Washington Irving. 

6th " School life and early manhood ot Washington Irving 

7th " Reminiscences of Irving's lady friends. 

8th " Account of and selections from " Salmaeundi." 



SECOND LESSON. 

1st Topic: A sketch of " Diedrich Knickerbocker," with selections 

from his "History oi New York." 
2d " History of" The Sketch-Book, " and its pubHcation. 

3d " First half" Sleepy Hollow." 

4th " Second half " 

5th " "Rip Van Winkle." 

6th " " English Christmas " and "Christmas Eve." 

7th " " Christmas Day" and "Christmas Dinner." 

8th " "The Bi'oken Heart," with account of noted persons 

who were made to weep over it. 

THIRD LESSON. 

1st Topic: Irving's trips to Europe, for what? 

2d " Summary of his English books. 

3d " Describe his Spanish travels. 

4th " Summary of Spanish books. 

5th " Selections from the "Alhambra." 

6th " The " Engulfed Convent." 

7th " Irving as historian, and biographer. 

8th " "Astoria," with sketches. 

FOURTH LESSON. 

ist Topic: When was Irving in the zenith of his glory? — with 
reminiscences. 

2d " His different 710m de plumes. 

3d " Selections from " Bracebridge Hall." 

4th " History of " Wolfert's Roost." 

5th " " Sunnyside," with Irving's closing years. 

6th " Explain why Irving is the connecting link between Eng- 

lish and American literature. 

7th " The charm to you of Irving's writings. 

8th " Benefits accruing from reading such works, with teachings 

of such characters as Rip Van Winkle and Ichabod 
Crane, etc. Volunteer work at pleasure. 



The Irving lessons are culled from the " Encyclopedias," Irving's 
"Complete Works," "Life of Irving," by either Pierre M. Irving, 
Charles Dudley Warner, or others. Duyckinck's Cyclopedia is espec- 
ially good for all authors. 



WASHINGTON ALLSTON. 

Born 1779, i^. C. Died 1843. 



FIFTH LESSON. 

ist Topic : Nativity and early life. 

2d " His mission abroad — for what purpose ? 

3d " Summary of his first poem, the " Sylphs of the Seasons." 

4th " Poem, " Boyhood." 

5th " Sketch of his career as an artist. 

6th " Describe his g^reat unfinished picture. 

7th " " The Paint king " 

8th " Tributes of his friends to him and his peaceful death. 

The " Enclycopedias," Different Collections of American Poetry, 
and " An Evening- with Allston, 
material for this lesson. 



by Miss Elizabeth Peabody, furnish 



jBmes ¥e.nimore^ ©ooper. 



The " literary sun " which rose in the person of Washington Irving — 
" the sun that was never again to set" while America stands a nation — 
began to light the horizon, and by his rays we see many other lights 
of less magnitude in the literary firmament, lights which give promise 
that their scintillations would soon cause the darkness to flee as before 
the day ; and not only would they gild America's historic hills and 
dales, but would also stream away across the water to the mother 
country, sitting so proudly in her islanil home. Many of the lesser 
lights are so called, not because of .ess brilliancy, perhaps, but because 
they were more like meteors — seen and heard, then gone — while others 
of more prominence have been of the nature of the fixed stars ; ever 
shining through years of literary toil and efifort ; shining yet, though 
the body may have long since mingled with earth's particles. 

Intimately associated with Washington Irving, we find his friend 
and co-laborer of his early years, James Kirke Paulding, who assisted 
him in his humorous "Salmagundi" papers. His "Bull and Jona- 
than, and the Thirteen Farms over which they Squabbled." shows 
clearly the spirit of the times in the young countr)^ 

Richard H. Dana, born 1787, gave as his masterpiece in poetry, 
"The Buccaneer," and later, "The Idle Man." 

Hannah F. Gould, two years younger, found many admirers in 
America for her sweet verses. "The Mother's Dream," "The 
Youth's Coronal," and "' Gathered Leaves," keep her memory green. 



It is our purpose in this " circle " to oive to woman her place among 
the " literary lights of our country, and though at this time we do not 
find many who have attained popularity by their /<?;^^, save as used as 
a means of friendly intercourse, we do find a delightful assemblage 
of women whose high characters and brilliant accomplishments made 
them the chosen and valued friends of our " men of letters." 

Among Irving's lady friends we find the name of Miss Mary Fairlie, 
a bright and vivacious wit, for whom he cherished a life-long friend- 
ship. She was the genuine Sophy Sparkle of the Salmagundi papers, 
and bec;mie the wife of the tragedian, Thos. A. Cooper. 

Time fails me to tell of the many brilliant women of that day, and 
I must pass over the Livingstons, the accomplished Mrs. Jay, wife of 
our minister to Spain, and Martha Jefferson, down to Jennie Jeoff'rey, 
the bonnie blue-eyed lass of Burns' sweet love songs. She was born 
in Scotland, but spent the most of her life in New York City. She 
was an intimate friend of Irving's, and it was said of her that " the 
simplest souvenirs from her hand were accompanied by a tenderness, a 
tact and a grace that made trifles precious by her manner of bestowing 
them." 

Irving's friend, Mrs. Hoff"man, did much to form his noble character. 
He being a very heedless student of law, was still much beloved by 
both her husband, and herself, for his bright vivacity and genuine wit. 

We will glance, lastly, at another friend of Irving's — Octavia Walton 
La Vert, a Georgian lady — of whom the whole world had praise. 
She was called by various tides. " The most charming woman of the 
world." "The gifted daughter of the South." Lafayette, who met 
her when but a child, said, " Truly a wonderful child; I predict for her 
a brilliant future." Irving said, "She is such an one as occurs but 
once in the course of an empire." A distinguished writer said of her, 
" I defy anyone to sit for an hour in her company and not rise up a 
better man." She was possessed of that spirit of love that goes out 
from a great and good heart and meets everywhere response. " The 
world smiled upon her because she was gracious to the world." " Once 
when traveling by stage she was much interested in the humor and 
anecdotes of one of the travelers. At last he described a Spanish inci- 
dent of which she had heard from a friend. She turned to him and 
said, ' You must be Washington Irving ? ' And so he was. Her friend 
had told her that Irving was a spectator." Thus began a friendship 
which lasted through life, and she was ever a cherished guest at Sunny- 
side. When she left there for the last time, Irving said, " I feel as if 
all the sunshine were going away with you, my child." Rev. John 
Pierpont said to her, on seeing her for the first time, "Octavia! — the 
eighth. If gracious Heaven hath made eight such, where are the other 
seven ? " One other thought : When a friend once commentec: upon 
her beautiful foot, Henry Clay gave this eulogy : " She has a tongue 
that never spoke an evil word of anyone.' May this be the practical 
lesson drawn from this litde sketch of America's favorite, Octavia 
Walton La V(#t. 

Mrs. E. F. Ellet, in her " Queens of American Society," has opened 
many such avenues of pleasures ior us, if we seek to enter them. 



lO 

We come now to consider one of the bright Hghts of prose literature, 
James Fenimore Cooper, first great novehst in order of time, but 
second in rank, having to yield in later years his place to Nathaniel 
Hawthorne, who is called the "Ace of Fiction of America." Bryant 
says, "The creations of Cooper's genius shall survive through centu- 
ries to come, and shall only perish with our language." Independent 
in character and a strong patriot, he commanded the respect, yet 
awakened the animosities of both countries. Gifted in descriptive 
power, and full of the new and varied scenes of aboriginal life, his 
works are replete with interest to all who will follow him through his 
trackless forests, or over his bounding billows. 

Mrs. Lydia H. Sigourney, for years the brightest star of poesy, 
claims our next lesson hour after Cooper. She was the first American 
lady writer to acquire a reputation in Europe. 



JAMES FENIMORE COOPER. 

Born 1789, N. J. Died 1851. 



1st Topic: 

2d 

3d 

4th 
5th 

6th 
7 th 
8th 



SIXTH LESSON. 

Sketch Cooper's nativity and childhood. 

Reasons for his skill in writing sea stories. 

What features of his writings made them so popular in 
England as well as this country? 

Account of his first effort at literature. 

Names of Leather-Stocking series, with review and selec- 
tions from the L. S. series. 

Describe his European tour. 

His controversies on governmental principles. 

Review " Red Rover" or " Vulcan's Peak," others of the 
L. S. Series, if desired. 



MRS. LYDIA HUNTLEY SIGOURNEY. 

Born 1791, Conn. Died 1865. 



SEVENTH LESSON. 

1st Topic: Child life, and home training. 

2d " Scenes of her school life. 

3d " Early literary eff)rts. 

4th " Selections from " Pocahontas." 

5th " " The Coral Insect." 

6th " " Niagara." 

7th " "Jesus of Nazareth." 

8th " Her " Valedictory," just before her death at 74 years ot 
aee. 



1 1 



llJifliam ©yirepi Bm<^n\. 



After viewing, in the bright galaxy of American authors, James 
Fenimore Cooper and Mrs. Lydia H. Sigourney, we turn our gaze to 
one of the meteors, John Howard Payne, whose one bright flash of 
poetic fire has left a trail of light that reaches into every heart and 
home. Baffled and disappointed, as he was in his conflict with the 
selfish outside world, he seems to give voice to his heart longings for 
the satisfying peace of " Home, Sweet Home." 

Another — not a " meteor," but a light of mild radiance which calmly 
shone till more than four-score years had passed — is Mrs. Sarah Jo- 
sepha Hale, of the old Granite State. Her "Sketches of American 
Character," " Sketches of Distinguished Women," besides many 
poems of equal merit, made her a popular writer of her day. Even 
after the infirmities of 84 years, she gave to the world one of Amer- 
ica's most beautiful " Thanksgiving Hymns," breathing the spirit of 
love and patriotism : 

" With half of heaven above us, 

An ocean on each hand, 
We've room for all who love us 

And join our brother band. 
Praising the Great All-Giver, 

Our home-feast we di>play, 
And through the years forever, 

Keep free Than!<sgiving day.'' 

Jared Sparks, one of our first historians, has also a place in this 
decade, being for seven years editor of the JVorf/i America?! Review. 

Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, as scholar, orator, and statesman, 
stands prominent in our nation's history. He also had the honor to 
be one of the early editors of the North Aiiierican Review. His 
patriotism is shown most clearly in his later years by his giving gratu- 
itously his time and paying his own expenses while interested in col- 
lecting the "Mount Vernon fund," to purchase the home and burial 
place of Washington, for a "place of pilgrimage " for all ages. He 
personally raised ^100,000 for this purpose. This should be ///"^ mon- 
ument for time. 

After him we see rising from the eastern horizon a star of the 
first magnitude in the literary firmament — William CuUen Bryant. 
Calmly, modestly, serenely, shone this star, while almost a century of 
nation's turmoils passed by. America, freed from her grasping 
mother's embrace, had entered upon a peaceful, independent career of 
her own, and was busy settling the many constitutional questions of 
such vital importance to the young republic. Gen. Washington had 
exchanged his sword for the insignia of the presidential chair a second 
time. England had tried a second time to subdue the country, but 
failed. 



I 2 

Napoleon, too, grasping- at the whole world, like an infant spreading- 
his fingers to grasp a lap lull of ro-y apples, lets all slip through, he 
finds himself empty-handed and empty-hearted, alone in his desert 
isle, safe from all trouble with his brother man. 

It was this dark blot upon the world's history that first stirred to its 
depths the fiery indignation of the boy who afterward became America's 
first great poet. While yet but a lad of 13 years, he, in a burst of 
poetic patriotism, attacked Congress, not sparing even the occupant 
of the presidential chair, Thomas Jefferson, for what he deems cringing 
in fear from Napoleonic power. So brilliant was this effusion that it 
required the authenticated statements, of many witnesses, to prove its 
authorship. 

Contemporary with, and yet a little in advance of, so many of the 
world's master minds, Bryant's star shone and still shines undimmed. 
During his life Waverly's author was in the zenith of his glory; the 
authors of "David Copperfield " and " Pendennis " grew up under 
the light that shone across the ocean wave, and our own Longfellow, 
Emerson, and Lowell, ' grey-headed men when he died, were all his 
children in song." What wonder, then, that Bryant, oft wearied with 
the noise and tumults, the battle-cries of nations, and the conflict of 
such diverse minds, loved to seek the haunts of the birds and to muse 
by the brooklet that 



" PJays on the slope awhile, and then 
Goes prattling into groves again;" 



or to linger among 



" Blossoms bright with autumn dew. 
And colored with the heaven's own blue.' 



In his lines- 



" Wouldst thou rest av.-hile from the tumult and the frauds of men ? 
These old and friendly solitudes invite thy visit." 

— we see the expression of this thought. His personifications of na- 
ture people his woods with life. This we see in his little poem, " The 
Wind and the Stream," one verse of which will be an appetizer: 

" A breeze came wandering from the sky, 
Light as the whispers of a dream ; 
He put the o'erhanging grasses by 

And softly stooped to kiss the stream — 
The shy, yet unreluciant, stream." 

Only the old, yet ever new story. Other poets have written thoughts 
that are better fitted to create a wild enthusiasm in the public mind, in 
this rushing, clamorous century, but none have excelled him in trib- 
utes to God's great gift to us — our beautiful mother earth. Nature to 
him was but 

" An emanation of the indwelling Life, 
A visible token of the upholding Love, 
That are the soul of this great universe." 



13 



WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. 

BoKN 1794, Mass. Died 187S. 



1st Topic: 

2d 

3d " 
4th 

5th " 

6th 

7th 
8th 



EIGHTH LESSON. 

Ancestry and boyhood. 

Give his views of his ancestors, especially his maternal 

grandfather. 
His earliest poetical effort at school. 
His next and first famous poem, "The Embargo," with 

circumstances which called it forth. 
Account of his courtship and marriage, with the poem, 

'" The Song," commemorative of his shy courtship. 
Sketch of the history of his writing his great poem, 

" Thanatopsis." 
Read " Thanatopsis." 
" Lines to a Water Fowl," with cause of writing it. 



NINTH LESSON. 

1st Topic: Sojourn in Europe, with impressions of scenes visited. 

2d " " Death of the Flowers," with its memory. 

3d " First half of " Little People of the Snow." 

4th " Second half of " " " " 

5th " "Sella," one of his Christmas poems. 

6th " "The Land of Dreams." 

7th " "The Burial of Love." 

8th " His Bible poem, " Rizpah." 



TENTH LESSON. 

1st Topic: Give history ol the establishment of North American 

Revieiv, with names of early editors. 
2d " Describe his efforts to publish his works in England. 
3d " " Forest Hymn." 

4th " "The Flood of Years." 

5th " His translations. 

6th " His closing years and death. 

For Bryant lesson see "Poetical Works of W. C. Bryant," Bry- 
ant's Life, by Stoddard or Hill, " Bryant and His Friends," and En- 
cyclopedias. 

COMPLETE TENTH LESSON. 

REVIEW QUESTIONS. 

Who opens up American literature proper ? Give his most intimate 
friends (gentlemen). Name his special lady friends. Who was Geof- 
frey Crayon ? What was Paulding's no7n de plume '^ Who was Sophy 



H 

Sparkle ? Who are the leading characters in Rip Van Winkle ? Who 
was Brom Bones? What are the Salmagundi papers? What does 
the name mean ? Did Irving meet with favor at once in England ? 
Who wept over Irving's " Broken Heart " ? Where was the painter- 
poet born ? What is his most famous poem ? What were his most 
prominent pictures? Where did Irving spend his latter years? What 
rank does Cooper have as noveHst? Give names of " Leather Stock- 
ing Tales." What makes Natty Bumpo immortal? Why did the 
English people like Cooper's eady productions ? Who is the hero 
and heroine of " The Pathfinder " ? Of the " Last of the Mohicans" ? 
Give name of Cooper's best land story. His best sea story. What 
state gave Cooper birth ? What state gave Mrs. Sigourney ? Why 
did she first begin to write ? Were her literary efforts' appreciated ? 
When born ? At what age did she die? What was Allston's great 
unfinished picture? Who was Dana? Between what prominent 
writers do we find Hannah F. Gould ? Who was Launcelot Langstaff ? 
Who was the first American lady to acquire European fame ? Who 
was Pocahontas ? Whose poem speaks of her ? Who was Ichabod 
Crane? Where and what was " Wolfert's Roost ?" What was Irving's 
reputation as a student ? Name some ol the prominent statesmen of 
the Revolutionary period. Name the "church men" of the Colonial 
period. Where is Sunnyside? Name the prominent writers who 
were born during the decade from 17S1 to 1791. Who are Cooper's 
readers generally at the present time ? Who was the author of " Home, 
Sweet Home"? Where was he born? Who gave the "Thanks- 
giving Hymn " closing with the line " Keep free Thanksgiving Day " ? 
What did Edward Everett do to ennoble his name? Name early 
editors of A'. A. Review. Who is called the father of American 
poetry ? When and where born ? Died at what age ? Name some 
great events of which he was witness. Who was President when Irv- 
ing and Cooper were in their prime? What President did Bryant at- 
tack with scorn ? Name first historian of note. Who were England's 
prominent literary stars at this period ? What was the occasion of 
Bryant's writing, " The Embargo " ? What prompted his " Lines to 
a Water Fowl "? What sad conclusion had his " Hymn to Death " ? 
What author was Bryant's son-in-law? Name the grand poem of 
Bryant's old age. 



15 

Before we leave our last subject, William CuUen Bryant, let us lin- 
ger just a little longer among the quiet, soothing gems of poetry he 
has given us. We have followed him from " Thanatopsis " — strange 
poem for a boy of eighteen ! — through a long life filled with poetic fan- 
cies, and before bidding him farewell let every student go with him 
through his exquisite " Flood of Years" with its resistless tide, which 
at last swept into its current 

" That good grey head that all men knew." 

Leaving him, we find in the death throes of the i8th century, glim- 
merings of other bright minds, that were destined to illumine the 
dawning years of the 19th century. 

Among the ladies we see enrolled the name of Miss Catharine Maria 
Sedgwick. Born and nurtured amid the most cultured people, it was 
but natural that she should use her own pen, and with such skill that 
she earned for herself a place and rank among her friends. "Hope 
Leslie " and " Linwood," among her best tales, were very popular, and 
her birthplace — Stockbridge — was famous only because she lived in it. 

In 1793 was born Samuel G. Goodrich familiarly known to the 
school children of forty years ago as "Peter Parley." He devoted 
his talents especially to books and studies for the young. He says he 
wrote 170 volumes, 116 of them being under the name of "Peter 
Parley." 

In 1796 one of our historians came upon the stage of action — John 
G. Palfrey. His literary efforts were all devoted to his own section of 
the country — New England — and her history ; his most complete work 
being "' New England, from Its Discovery to the Revolution." 

A twin in age with Palfrey, we find William Hickling Prescott, our 
bright star, of the first magnitude, in the field of history. After being 
able for a few years to gaze on the beauties of nature, and to read from 
her wonderful books, an accident deprived him of one eye, and sympa- 
thy of the othersoon made it necessary for him to depend upon others, 
for that knowledge, for which his mind was thirsting, that of history. 
Ten long years of patient study, through the eyes of others, laid in him 
the foundation for his gvand superstructure, his " Ferdinand and Isa- 
bella." His "Conquest of Mexico" and "Conquest of Peru" also 
stand peerless on the roll of history. 

Just as the light of 1800 broke on the world another of America's 
great historians, George Bancroft, commenced his career. From boy- 
hood he manifested great maturity of mind, and a very marked ambi- 
tion. One of his teachers sent the following message to his father : 
" He is a fine lad; he appears to have the stamina of a distinguished 
man. He has taken rank, among the first scholars in the academy, and 
I wish you would send me a half dozen more boys just like him." He 
published some translations of Goethe and Schiller, and a volume of 
" Literary and Historical Essays." But his greatest work is his " His- 



i6 

torv of the United States." He had the honor to deHver eulo.oiums 
upon Washino^ton Irving, William H. Prescott, and upon our coun- 
try's first martyred president, Abraham Lincoln. 

Sometimes the rays of hght are so blended that at this distance it is 
ahiiost impossible to separate them into their individuality. Of this 
nature, we now will speak of the firm known as " Croaker & Co," com- 
posed of two kindred spirits — Fitz-Greene Halleck and Joseph Rodman 
Drake. Halleck, by most authors said to be five years the senior of 
Drake, yet found in the poetic fancies and brilliant wit of the boy poet 
a valued and loved friend through life, and whose early death called 
forth from him the sweet lines, familiar to everyone: 

" None knew thee but to love thee; 
None named thee but lo praise." 



FITZ-GREENE HALLECK. 

Born 1790, Connecticut. Died 1867. 



ELEVENTH LESSON. 

1st Topic: Give sketch of boyhood and early manhood of Halleck. 
2d " When and by what means did he first establish himself as 

an author ? 
3d " What was the nature of the " Croaker & Co" papers? 

And give some sketches from them. 
4th " " Alnwick Castle. " 
5th " Select from " Fanny." 
6th " "Red Jacket." 

7th " His masterpiece, " Marco Bozzaris." 

8th " Tribute to his friend Drake. 



JOSEPH RODMAN DRAKE. 

Born 1794, New York. Died 1820. 



TWELFTH LESSON. 

1st Topic. His parentage and boyhood. 

2d " His personation of " Don Quixote." 

3d " Why was Drake enabled to leave the practice of medicine 

and turn to literature. 

4th " Meeting with Halleck, and their great friendship. 

5th " " American Flag." 

6th " Account of his inspiration of" The Culprit Fay." 

7th " First half "Culprit Fay." 

8th " Second half " 

Is this simply a fairy tale or has it a deeper meaning — with its sin, 
its tear, and its torch ? 



17 



J^calpR (|}(!if(!l© ^mers©!^. 



In pursuing this study of American literature, we find that the mas- 
ter minds of the world seem to have been moved as though by a com- 
mon impulse, at different times, something like a contagion — as though 
the atmosphere was surcharged with each kind in its turn, and that the 
writers breathed it in as an epidemic. 

As was stated in the opening essay in this course, the early writers 
of the country were filled with religious discussions and church questions 
from the time of Increase and Cotton Mather down to Jonathan Edwards, 
a man pre-eminent in his age, who was called the first man of the world in 
his period. This was the most natural subject for thought at that 
time, for was it not for this very privilege that the Pilgrim Fathers 
came to these " stern and rock-bound coasts " ? 

Next after this came a period ot literary activity in a new field, 
statesmanship. Why ? Because the state of the country demanded it. 
The church had settled its vexed questions, and the new country must 
be governed; and how to do it must of necessity be the uppermost 
thought of the thinkers and writers. The times demanded the men, 
and the men, with the mental calibre, were ready. The brilliant stars 
in the field of statesmanship, at this crisis, were James Otis, John Adams, 
Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, the tongue rather than the pen 
of Patrick Henry, John Jay, and many others, who, in their great in- 
terest, in the political condition of the country, were laying a strong 
foundation for the future superstructure, ot the temple of American lit- 
erature. 

Next to this foundation of stone, which was saturated with the blood 
of the nation's sons, we find a layer new in design. This is called the 
true American literature. Of those who built and beautified this part 
of the structure, we find the architects to be Irving, Paulding, and 
others, who, sitting under the full refulgence of liberty's beams, could 
amuse themselves, and others, by satires, and criticisms, upon their 
friends and companions; but all in a spirit of good-will. This may be 
called the age of satire, and biography. Then follows a severe epi- 
demic of historians, who wrought out in beautiful walls ol thought, 
with windows of pearls, the history of the century just then closed. 

In a little more than a decade — from 1789 to 1800 — our four great 
historians, Jared Sparks, W. H. Prescott, John G. Palfrey, and George 
Bancroft all began to breathe the pure New England air of liberty, and 
to develop muscle and brain, whose power is felt to-day, a century 
later. The same atmosphere also gave birth to the spirit of poesy, as 
here we find Bryant, called the lather of poesy. These writers, each 
in turn, have dealt, in their special field, with all the questions of the 
external and visible world in all its varied relations and circumstances; 
but as we turn now into the first decade of our own grand century. 



i8 

we find not only a new century, but a new class of minds unheralded 
by any in the new world. These minds were not satisfied to gaze on 
the externals of things, but must needs sit down and penetrate beyond 
the bounds of the known and visible — into what is known as the ideal, 
the transcendental, the beyond experience — that they might discover, 
if possible, the hidden springs of thought which impel to action. Like 
the explorer, who, not feeling satisfied to stand by the river's brink, 
Ireighted with steamers and barges, and watch them float adown the 
stream; but must asLcnd by many a weary step the mountain's side, 
through many a narrow chasm and over many a rough obstacle, till 
he finds the little bubbling spring which gurgles forth the tiny stream, 
which soon leaps and dances on its downward path to the sea. Among 
the m.aster spirits of this cycle were William Ellery Channing, Wil- 
liam Henry Channing, A. Bronson Alcott, Henry D. Thoreau, and 
last but not least — or rather, in the scriptural way of putting it, " The 
last shall be first" — stands Ralph Waldo Emerson, styled by some, 
" The Shakespeare of America. ' ' This brilliant coterie ol kindred minds 
led the new school of thought not only around the " Hub,' ' but through- 
out the world. These "idealists," daring to strike out in divergence 
from the established orthodoxy, of their church, only did what the Pil- 
grim Fathers were guilty ot two hundred years before — exercising 
"liberty of conscience." Of course, in the minds of many they were 
at once classed as heterodox and dangerous. 

Now in the further pursuit of this subject let it be understood that 
the author of this course of study is endeavoring to set before the 
students the subjects as history records them, leaving each one to settle, 
if possible, for him or herself the truth or error set forth in the works 
of each author. This is true study. Suffice it to say that though some 
hidden mysticisms or idealities may bewilder the mind in this study, that 
still the fact remains that Ralph Waldo Emerson, orthodox or hetero- 
dox, has left behind him the record of a beautiful life, that in many re- 
spects all will do well to examine, and copy. It is said of him that 
after a residence of nearly fifty years in the home of his choice — Con- 
cord, Mass — " He was the foremost citizen of the place, sharing alike 
the love, honor, and reverence of all his townsmen, regardless of sect 
or party. " And one of his latest thoughts must commend itself to every 
sincere heart: "Unlovely — nay, frightlul — is the solitude of a soul 
which is without God in the world. To see men pursuing in faith their 
varied actions, warm-hearted, providing for their children, loving their 
friends, and perlorming their promises, what are they to this chill, 
houseless, fatherless, aimless Cain, the man who hears only the sound 
of his own footsteps in God's resplendent creation?" 



19 



RALPH WALDO EMERSON. 

Born, iSoj, Mass. Died, 1882. 



1st Topic 

2d 

3d " 
4th " 
5th. " 

6th " 

7th 
8th 



ist Topic 

2d 

3d " 
4th " 
5th 
6th 

7th " 
8th 



ist Topic 



2d 

3d 
4th 
5th 
6th 



THIRTEENTH LESSON. 

Ancestral sketch. « 

His child life and its promise. 

College reminiscences and his friends there. 

His earliest poetical effort of note. 

When and why did he write " Good-bye, Proud World, 

I'm Going Home" ? 
What great sorrow inspired his finest and tenderest 

poem " Threnody?" 
"The Dirge," for whom composed? 
Give an epitome of his little essay " Love." 

FOURTEENTH LESSON. 

Describe his experiences which caused him to withdraw 

from his church and ministry. 
Read "The Problem." 
"The Rhodora." 
Read his essay on " Fate," and discuss it. 

" " " " "Beauty," " " 

Account of establishing the Atlantic Mo7ithly and 

of the Boston " Saturday Club." 
The " Mountain and the Squirrel." 
Whom does he consider " Representative Men," with 

sketch at pleasure. 

FIFTEENTH LESSON. 

What proof did his townsmen give of love to Emerson 

in his old age ? 
" Terminus." 

His closing years, with account of his death. 
Review, or read his essay, " Self- Reliance." 
" Spiritual Laws." 
"The Over Soul." 



These essays should be studied — probably each one, with discussion, 
will fill a lesson, if so desired. Read through first, discuss afterwards. 



20 

MARGARET FULLER OSSOLL 

Born, i8io, Mass. Died, 1850. 



SIXTEENTH LESSON. 

1st Topic : Her early promise and causes of her great development. 
2d " Her early trials from her peculiar temperament, which 

matured her character. 
3d " Sketch " Brook Farm " and its object. 

4th " Her " Conversations," and their effect upon those inter- 

ested. 
5th " Give her opinions of the writings of Irving, Cooper, 

and Longfellow, the literati of her day. 
6th " Give selections at pleasure from her greatest work, 

"Women of the 19th Century." 
7th " Her trip to Europe, and description of England's great 

men in literature, especially Carlyle, and, vice versa, 

his thoughts of her. 
8th " Her marriage and life in Rome. Her homeward trip, 

and sad death ot herself and family when within sight 

of the home land. 
Was Margaret Fuller most admired for what she wrote 

or what she said? What should the study of her 

character do for us ? 



These lessons are prepared from the " American Men of Letters " 
series, "Ralph Waldo Emerson," Emerson's Prose and Poetical 
Works, Julia Ward Howe's "Life of Margaret Fuller," and Encyclo- 
pedias. 



21 



K(!itfi<HBi©r ^(^w\^erne.. 



Almost side by side with Ralph W. Emerson, a lady writer of great 
power — Lydia Maria Child — had a name and place. As a magazine 
editress, a biographer, and champion of the anti-slavery movement, 
she was well known. Her " Biographies of Good Wives " and 
" Women of All Ages " are among her best works. 

George D. Prentiss, a wit and satirist, known to the world as editor 
of the Louisville Joicryial as well as a poet, had rank at this time 
among writers. His " Flight of Years " is one of his best poems. 

We come now to another star of first magnitude, Nathaniel Haw- 
thorne, generally assigned the first place of honor, among American 
novelists. Before entering upon his study we must go backward on 
Time's dial, to find some keys that unlock the portals of his weird, 
fascinating tales, that at the same time charm, and almost curdle, the 
blood in one's veins. We are carried back to those dark days in 
Massachusetts when the so-called "pious magnates" were, in their 
fanatical zeal, left to perpetrate enormous cruelties. These stern- 
browed Puritans, patriots, law-givers, forgetting that they had come 
to America for " freedom to worship God according to the dictates of 
their own consciences," had scarcely kindled their fires in their new 
homes until they instituted a series of persecutions which were a fit- 
ting counterpart for any ever devised by the papal power. Quakers 
and so-called witches alike fell under these fierce cruelties, like grain 
before the reaper. When we read that since the Christian era nearly 
nine millions of people have been burned as witches, and that thou- 
sands of Quakers have perished for their faith, we stand aghast. In 
view of these facts, do we wonder that when young Hawthorne, with 
an ancestry particularly bitter, and whose hands were stained with 
witches' blood, should have said that " even their old dry bones must 
still retain it if not crumpled to dust"; and dwelling amid many of 
the old haunted houses that were cursed by some survivor — do we 
wonder, I say, that so many of his tales should have such a heavy, sad 
weight of sin and sufifering resting upon his characters. His own 
manliness, however, stands out when, after referring to these ances- 
tors, says : " I, the present writer, as their representative, hereby 
take shame upon myself for their sakes, and pray that any curse in- 
curred by them may be now and henceforth removed." 

While' we find much that is dark and discouraging in this idea of 
the" heredity of sin" as set forth in these works, yet how the cloud 
is lifted as we look at Hawthorne's own life. He stands before the 
world side by side with Emerson as they " view the great struggle be- 
tween the two great forces," and leaves behind him a record of a life 
not blood-stained, nor cringing under a curse, but of a happy, loving 
manhood, having done all he could to lift up and ennoble his brother 
man. Of her who afterwards became his wile he said, upon meeting 



22 

her for the first time : " She is a flower to be worn in no man's bosom, 
but was lent fi-om heaven to show the possibilities of the human soul.'* 
But after winning her reveres her still the same. And she, in these 
few lines, gives the index to her soul : " My definition of beauty is 
that it is love, and therefore includes both truth and good.'' Her 
mother said, " I have not lost my daughter, but gained a noble son.'* 



NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE. 

Born, 1S04, Mass. Dikd, 1S64. 



SEVENTEENTH LESSON. 

ist Topic: Ten minute sketch of Salem witchcraft, introducing- 

Hawthorne's ancestry. 

2d " Boyhood, its "promise. 

3d " College life and friends. 

4th " Earliest writings, how received ? 

5th " Read " The Devil in Manuscript," with discussion. 

6th " "The Golden Touch." 

7th " "The Dragon's Teeth." 

8th " "The Gentle Boy." 

EIGHTEENTH LESSON. 

1st Topic : His marriage and family relations. 

2d " " Fancy's Show Box." 

3d " " The Great Carbuncle. " 

4th " Select from " Mosses from an Old Manse." 

5th " " The Miraculous Pitcher," with analysis of same. 

6th " " Twice Told Tales" at pleasure. 

7th " " Wonder Book," at pleasure. 

8th " Name his four great novels — with history of writing- 
the first — " The Scarlet Letter." 



NINETEENTH LESSON. 

ist Topic : One-half of " Scarlet Letter." Review and discussion. 

2d " Last half of " Scarlet Letter." 

3d " One-half " House of 7 Gables." 

4th " Last half "House of 7 Gables." 



23 

TWENTIETH LESSON. 

1st Topic: First half " Blithedale Romance." 

2d " Last half ' Blithdale Romance." 

3d " One-half " Marble Faun." 

4th " Last half " Marble Faun." 

These long books should be read by each member in home read- 
ings and only reviewed and discussed in Circle work. 

TWENTY-FIRST LESSON. 

REVIEW QUESTIONS. 

Who was Peter Parley ? 

Name the satirists. 

Who were Croaker & Co.? 

What did J. G. Palfrey write? Name his twin historian. 

Of whom was it said, " Send me a half-dozen more like him." 

Name the four historians born between 1789 and 1800, inclusive. 

Who was the blind historian ? 

Who wrote the " Conquest of Mexico ? " 

Of what nationality did Prescott write his best histories? 

Of whom did Bancrolt write ? 

Name the great statesmen of this period. 

Name the " Idealists." 

What is Transcendentalism ? Who was its great apostle? 

Tell something of J. Bronson Alcott. Of Henry D. Thoreau. 

Who was Margaret Fuller ? Tell of her ambition and its reward. 
Whom did she marry, and where was her married life spent ? 

What have you learned in regard to the kinds of writings, at differ- 
ent times ? 

Who was Horace Greeley ? 

Who were first interested in 'BA.-AX\\n%\\\^ Atlantic Monthly f The 
JSforth Aiuericaji Review. 

What did Bryant feel to be \\\sji7test work ? 

Where do you find the following quotations ? — and give the re- 
mainder of verse, with author's name: 

" Green be the turf above thee." 

" The hills, rock-ribbed and ancient as tlie sun." 

" He builded better than he knew." 

" He who from zone to zone." 

" A belt of darkness seems to bar the way." 

" One of the few, the immortal names." 

" She tore the azure robe of night." 

Name the famous places of Irving's writings. 

What were Bryant's sacred places? 

Cooper's nativity and most noted landmarks. 

Emerson's home and last resting place. 

Name prominent men of letters born between 1790 and 1800. 



24 

Women of note for same period. 

Who wrote " Biographies of Good Wives " ? 

Quartette of historians of this period. Nationahty of their writings. 

Who was nature's first great poet ? Name his finest poems. 

Who was Georfe D. Prentiss? 

Where have you read of Donatella, and what do you think of him ? 

Name first rank novelist. His three great American novels. His 
Italian novel. 

Have you endeavored to "read between the lines" in all your 
studies with these authors, especially Hawthorne ? 

If so, explain to "circle" "The Miraculous Pitcher." Also, "The 
Dragon's Teeth." 

What has your study of American literature done for you in this 
course of twenty lessons ? 

Have you found "jewels" in these mines? 

If not, renew the search, for they' re there. 



For entertainments during the year, should you desire so to do, 
make selections from the authors studied, according to pleasure; 
costuming the participants in the style of that age. Best papers written 
during " circle " work may also be preserved and reproduced with 
good effect. Of course utilize your best elocutionary and musical talent. 
Songs by our poets blend well with the readings. Tableaux of some 
of the special scenes of the times may be made very beautiful and 
effective, or a series of tableaux may be arranged, illustrating a long 
poem, with selections from it, viz.: IMiles Standish, or Evangeline, or 
from some of Whittier's poems; the " Sylphs of the Season" may be 
presented this way beautifully. 



Will each "circle" send two of its best papers, at the close of the 
years' work, for me to preserve, and also utilize as a stimulus to others 
in the work ? 

THE AUTHOR. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESi 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




007 379 208 3 # 



